Libraries can find themselves struggling to identify and serve the needs of their whole community, ensuring they take into consideration all nine characteristics protected by the UK Equality Act. By addressing protected characteristics and identifying issues that affect staff and patrons – such as mental health, sexuality and gender and socio-economic background – this book provides a selection of ideas to develop a diverse, inclusive and welcoming environment in modern libraries. More importantly, it highlights the positive and sometimes negative impact EDI activities can have, whilst introducing a wide range of new and innovative projects to inspire readers.

Readers will be introduced to the main topics and challenges of diversity and inclusion as well as being provided with up-to-date information on recent case studies to help them gain a wider perspective. Featuring practical examples of actions to make a difference, this book provides step-by-step advice on how libraries and librarians can work to make their spaces and services more inclusive for all and to increase the diversity of library workforces.

Topics covered include:

• policies and actions
• inclusive staff environments
• physical space events and visitors
• decolonising and diversifying collections.

Librarians will be equipped to assess their own library, identify challenges, address issues with confidence and start to make concrete changes to improve diversity and inclusion in their space.